Fare-collecting apparatus.



J. H. COLEMAN. FARE COLLECTING APPARATUS. APPLIGATIUH FILED JUNII4,1BDB.

913,698. PatentedMar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. H. COLEMAN. FARE COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNIH, 1908.

91 3 ,698. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

SSKEETS-SHEET 2.

J. 11. oomzmm FARE COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE-4, 1908,

Patented Mm. 22 19M '3 SHEETS MN I,

Fig.6

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Y6 HRWQ x (1 JOSEPH H. COLEMAN, or TOTTENHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FARE-COLLECTING APPAE'AT as.

Specification of Iiettera Patent.

Patented March 2, 1809.

Application filed June 4, 1908. serial No. 4361701.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. COLEMAN, of the town of Tottenham, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fare-Collectors, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to devise means for conveniently collecting fares, as a passenger enters a car without requiring the use of a portable fare box. In devising such apparatus several requirements must be kept in view. First-4t must be so constructed as to make it impossible for the passenger to pass off a worthless or imitation fare undetected; second----it must he so constructed as to make it impossible for the passcn er to deposit his fare in the apparatus in suc 1 a Way that the conductor can remove it and appropriate it; third--the abstraction of individual fares after they have passed into the apparatus must be prevented; fourth -means must be provided whereby the boxes in which the fares are collected cannot be removed from the apparatus in an unlocked condition.

Broadly speaking my a )paratus comprises a fare receiving receptacle having a bottom which may be operated to turn down the fare, a chute into which the fare is turned down, a box in which the fares are collected as received from the chute and means for opening the box it is inserted into the up )aratus and for locking it before removal.

lily present invention relates particularly to improvements in the means for locking the fare box, and to improvements in certain other details of the apparatus as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fare collector. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same with the casing partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drawer with the fare box drawn out. Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the fare box and drawer partly drawn out. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rocking bottom of the farercce )tacle in its normal position. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the bottom rvcked to turn down a. far Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the rocking bottom of the swinging gate which normally closes lhe opening through which the fares are Fig. 9 is a side elevation turned down showing the arm which limits the move-- ments of the rockin bottom. Fi 10 is a cross section of one o the sides of t e hopper of the fare receptacle. H

In the drawings'like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The device is intended for use as described in my prior patent No. 875,781 and is located beside the entry to the car. The parts are all contained within the casing 1, of suitable shape and having its top formed as a table or counter on which the conductor may mark his transfers, make change and conduct his other business with the passengers entering the ar. At the top of the casing is located a fare collecting receptacle 2. This fare receplacle comprises four glass walls 5 suitably held in a metal frame. The bottom of the receptacle is closed by a rocking bottom l, intended to retain the fares until the latter are properly turned down by the conductor. This rocking bottom comprises a segment of a cylinder closely fitted lo the bottom of the frame of the receptacle 2. A flat is formed at one part of the surface of this segment which normall forms a flat bottom. for the receptacle as 8 Own in Fig. The curved outer surfaces of the rocking bottom are provided with circurrlferential ribs 5. The bottom of the outer wall of the receptacle formed by part ofthe frame supporting the glassplatesis suitably notched lo lit those ribs. (See particularly Figs. 2, l3 and 7 The purpose of this con struction is to prevent tickets or'cash fares becoming jammed between the surface of the rocking bottom and the outer wall of the receptacle.

An opening (5 is formed between thebottom of the opposite wall of the fare receptacle and the rocking bottom and through this opening the l'aros are turned down, when lhc bottom is rotated to the position shown in Fig. T. This opening is'norinally closed by the swinging gatc'lsuitably hinged at its upper edge (sec particularly Figs. 2 and H). The openinp ll prevents any jam wing of fares when a number are turned down together and at the same time, the gate prevents any individual fares from fulling through until regularly turned down bv the conductor.

The lower edge of [he gale is preferably llolcbcil to fit the rib 5 of the rocking bolt tom. The rocking bottom is operated by means of a hand lever 8 suitably pivoted on the frame of the apparatus and extending to a point convenient to the conductors hand. To its lower end is pivotally connected the link 9, the other end of which is connected to the arm 10 connected to the rock shaft 11 to which the rocking bottom is secured. This shaft is journaled in suitable brackets 12, formed on or secured to the frame of the machine (see Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9 To limit the movement of the rocking bottom in either direction I secure to the shaft 11 an arm 5-1 and secure to the plane at either side thereof the stops 52 with which the end of the arm may engage. I also secure to the lever 8 a coil'spring 38, the other end of which is secured to the frame. This sprin tends to retain the parts in their norma .position.

For the purpose of preventing the illicit abstraction of fares from the fare rece tacle, I have adopted the construction I will now describe.

A hopper is formed at the upper part of the fare receptacle by means or the transarent plates 13, which have an opening tween their lower ends preferab constructed to one side as shown in ig. 2. Below the upper lates are secured the oppositely inclined alfie plates 14 which are also transparent. The opening between the lower ends of these plates is preferably out of alinement with the opening between the lower ends of the hopper plates and to the opposite side of the center of the plane to that towards which the opening between the lower ends of the upper plates faces. The pur ose of this is two fold. It is thereby ren ered im ossible to introduce any tool through to t e bottom of the receptacle to abstract coins and any fares are directed towards the outer side of the rocking bot tom where they are readily seen by the conductor and in such a position that if the conductor happens to rave )artly turned the rockin bottom to turn down a fare, the last introduced fare will not slide throu h the opening 6 without being seen but will fall onto the ribbed portion of the bottom which now begins to appear at the bottom of the receptacle.

Much difiiculty was experienced with the fare receptacle it was constructed. The walls of the hopper at the upper part of the receptacle being of plain g ass, coins were wetted and would then slick to the walls of the hopper when passed on and were subse qncntly appropriated by the conductor. Much difficulty was experienced in overcoming this trouble, but it was finally accomplished by the following construction :--Instead of forming the side walls of the hopper with continuous plane surfaces, they were formed with discontinuous surfaces,

referably by forming them with a series of downwardly directed ribs 15. See articularly Figs. 1, 2 and 10). This rib ing by preventing any large or continuous plane of contact between the coin and the walls of the hopper effectually overcame this method of illegally appropriating fares.

I do not desire to limit myself, of course, to the specified method of forming the discontinuous surfaces shown in the drawin s as man variations may be devised Win51 would all within the scope of my invention.

Further trouble was experienced through arties desirous of cheating the apparatus For the benefit of the conductor depositing wetted coins on the edges of the rim of the hopper or on the angle where the two sides meet. It was found necessary therefore to bevel the edges of the rim 53 of the hopper almost to a knife edge so that no coin could be balanced thereon as a passenger passed the ap aratus. Even though the edges were beveled to a knife edge, it was still possible to rest a coin on the an les between them and I have therefore provi ed each angle with an upward projection 54 beveled .or tapered to a rounded point on which no coin can rest.

The combination of these two features, the

beveled edges of the rim and the upward projections at the corners has resulted in a complete defeat of such attempts to beat the apparatus.

The fares are turned down into the fare chute 16 in the upper end of which the rocking bottom is located. This chute is intended to discharge into the fare box 17 (see Fig. 2). A hinged gate 50 is hung at one side of the chute near the bottom and is of such a length that if the whole apparatus he turned upside down, it will swing back and close the chute to prevent any fares returning from the fare box through the chute. The fare box is carried by a drawer 18 from which it is removable when the drawer is in the position shownin Fi 4. This drawer comprises an open metal frame work 19 secured. to two round uide rods 20 which slide in guides 21 on t 1e frame of the apparatus. The drawer can thus be pushed into the position shown in Fig. 2, or pulled into the position shown in Fi 4. In the front of the apparatus is forms an opening 22 for the drawer and the front23of the drawer forms a closure for thisopening.

Each fare box 17 is provided with a hinged cover 24, provided with a spring lock 25 of any suitable construction. lhe openin r (which will be seen particularly on re erence to Fig. 5) is of suitable height to admil the box with the lid in the position shown with the spring lock disengaged. Means nnist be provided however to raise the lid to the wide open position in order that the opening in the box may be made to register with the opening in the chute 16 as mama shown m -Fig.2. Fol' lilfislptfl posh I n'ovide within the casing ameorlntm hinge hooks flfiwyhichlareadaptell lo'enguge the 'll'eeedge ofIlJhmwvermnd raise it while vertical as the bmris iishecl into osition. ilho hooks 0P0 preform ly-provid with two notches 2710 mslm; tha't t har e shall 'be a proper enga omentbebwean the hooks and lzhe cover. t e position of the latter 'bain sometimes liable to slightvmiatipns when "t e 'latteris in the position-shown m Fig. 5. The heel of each of -thexhooks 26 is prbvicled with a. teat 28 which isochzpled tn-engage wcross bar of the frame as'shownlin Fi 5 to prevent, the arm dropping too 'low. ft has sometimes been louncl 'that'hoxos may accidentally be snapped Shut before they are ;plnced in the :Lppn'rams. To avoidfhis I .plvot a small (log 29 on the side of-each fare hox, its 11 pear and engagihg beneath a lip 30 formec at the side of'bheco verfl i nearits frea'ed The lower ond of'the dog lies in the put of the lan itudinal bm-31 secured to the 'fi'mnwoi tie machine. soon us the lower and of the dog engages UHS llih as the drawer 18 is pushed into place, the clog will be rocked Lo the rpofiition shown in Fig. 2 and when in this qaosilzion it l'm ms no ohstacleiolhe closin of the coveras lidroiuufterdescribed.

he method of closing the cover before the =bnx is withdrawn is sm important fenture-of my deviae. 'In my-prior patent No. 875,781 thisclosing ,of the-cover was=accmnlished dirccfily'throngh the agency of the )m: the cover of which engaged a rocking ai'ni Whidh, as it mining into the vertical 130- silion, forced down the box lid. I now accom lish the same result independently of the why mechanism-operated by thus-liding 'movement of the drawer containing the fore bowl. The closi the agency of lihe rod verticl lly movable in 'tho guilies 33, on the frame of the ap aratus. l he lower'end of the rod is grey ernbly provided with a'friction roller 4 (se Figs. 2'mxd' 5). A cross shaft 35 is secured to this vertical rod 11nd lihis cross shaft. has its-anclsjournnled in levers :36 fnlcmmacl on brackets 37mm: onench side-of the machine.

The Year or inner mls'of these levers 36 are provided with projections preferably in the form of friction mile; 39. It is -evitlont that by movihg these projecsions vei'lziczilly the-levers -will benpemlecl townis or lower the rorl 3. For :bhe purpose of rocking those. levers I supportfrom the frame work 19 and guirln rods-2f) oll-he (l'litfl'l 18 a pair xii lrm'ks m. lllfi 4,0. which may pos above or l'mlow the projex'limls. To muse theflc ribs to pas; alternately ahovq nn l lmlow t-ho project-ions asfilahedvmvor 1S reczprovate/i'l, l7

pruvido each rih with an inclined plane or switch oinl, All, pivolnarl on the rib at 453 and normal y :hold -m the :pgeihiou shown in Fi l 2 and 5 by a 0011 sprmg A. second is li'acted through guide-33 and the cross shaft 35 which tendsto'raim the rod 32.

The opemtiou of the'cuver closing cievie is as in lowsv when the part; are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the (ll'aww: is rlrnwn out by moans ofthe handle 4(1. The. inclined p'lmms ll gradually rock the lovers 36 by lifting the J1'0j0cl.iom 3i} umi the rod 32 is caused in pros-s on and (low tho cover. \Vhil'e the clowmvurcl mm'omml; oi the I'Gll may he su'lliciml in soup (town the 1."l)\l:l 'I. prefer to form an imalinorl plane on tho cover which aids l'hc pro-295$ by gradually pressing down (he ('ovmas the box isrlrn'wn beneath the roller oi the sod I'liZ. Beforo the drawer has been rlrmvn out in the position shown in Fig. 4 ,the now!- is mammal Tl locked and as $00M 2w t l plotcly drawn out, line LilUEp' fore box may he rvnmwcl. it will ho l 'llll llml the lmnt--E2S--ol line (lm'n'cr is pm virlell with an erinnsinn 18 which when rlu: drawer is pushed -hmuc extend inwardly $011K! distance .l'rom the opening 22. The purpose of this emulsion is to maintain the closure oi the opening 3" until Hllflil time :gsi thelprojections haw 'rirhlnn well up on the inolinoll plane H so -ll1ulitis impossible to insm'l; tools thmughlhu opening tn lift a raised and pliers no bar to the inirmlupiion of n foro box and the raising of this llll us llie drawer is pushed homo. As (he clrhwcl' is pushed in :li'l m' l'ho llW'JiR have: rl'ropped as aforesaid lhl: nojm'tlons liSllllg on the ribs ll lift: llm iucliuou' plmws l-i and pass umlm' l-hum. l'llu lnllm' n lililll tin-iii riginnl posiliorl innnellimol 'lw nwla-jel'i 'ms have purist-(l. rwui v in ogw o tlw ("l mains llw nvxl tzmc ills llrmwr is drawn.

Willi {ho arrangement jusl (law-Mimi il will lw: l'mmil impossible i ixll'ir'n i' lliQ Em-o. lmx until the ('(HJUI' has; liven knappml l0 llllll securoly lnclzwl. 'llw (hm-.1- vnsiua' l is: provided with o lllllg'il l b-2. l9 losiupr lulu oponing 29 through \vh'mh flu} (in) or is withdrawn. Asnilohlo llml; is provid'vl forthis door.

The procedure with regard to the inscrtion and removal of the fare box will be substantially as follows :--A special olficial will bring the box to the car, place it in the drawer, push the drawer into position and lock the door of the casing. At the close of the day the oilicial will remove the fare box, locking each through the action of the drawer as it is withdrawn. At the same time an empty box will be placed in position read for the next trip.

Wliile I have described the apparatus in its entirety, the fare receptacle with its rocking bottom is made the subject matter of my coending application, Ser. No. 445,277.

x'hat I claim as my invention is 1. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a chute for fares; a removable box below the lower, end of the chute; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus adapted to close the cover; and means independent of the box and operable from without the apparatus for moving the closing means'towards the closing position.

2; In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a chute for fares; a removable box below the lower end of the chute; a

and means independent of the box and 0p erable from without the appara us for rocking said lever.

3. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a chute for fares; a removable box below the lower end of the chute; a cover for the box; a sliding bar adapted to engage the cover to close it; a lever ivoted within the apparatus and pivotaly connected to said bar; and means independent of thebox and operable from without for rocking said lever.

4. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casin having an opening therein for the intr uction of a fare box; a chute for fares; a box for fares below the lower end of the chute and removable through the aforesaid opening; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus for closing the cover movable to and from the closing osition and normally retracted; a closure or the aforesaid opening; and means whereby the act of opening the closure moves the closing means to the operative position. I

5. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casing having an opening therein for the introduction of a fare box, a

chute for fares; a drawer slidable through said opening to a position below the'chute the front of the drawer forming a closure for the opening; afare box rcmovably carfrom the closing position; and means operable by the drawer for movlng said closing means.

6. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casing having an opening therein for the introduction of a fare box; a chute for fares; a drawer slidable through said openin to a position below the chute, the front 0 the drawer forming a closure for the opening; a fare box removably carried by said drawer; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus for closing the cover movable to and from the closin position; a pivoted inclined plane carried by the drawer adapted on the outward movement of the drawer to en age the closing'means to move them towar s the closing position and to pass by out of en agement, its pivoted support permitting of its return movement as the drawer is closed without affecting the closing means.

7. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casing having an opening therein for the introduction of a fare box; a chute for fares, a drawer slidable through said opening to a position below the chute the front of the drawer forming a closure for by said drawer; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus for closing the cover movable to and from the closin position; a projection on said means where y it may be 0 aerated; a rib carried by saiddrawer a apted to slide either at one side or the other of said projection as the drawer is reciprocated; and a pivoted inclined lane or switch oint at the forward end 0 said rib norma ly yieldingly held in osition to move the projection to cause the id closing means to assume the closing position as the drawer is drawn outward, the rib bein so proportioned that when the drawer is i illy drawn out the rojection is free to pass to the'other side of the rib and to lift and ass the switch point as the drawer is pushe in again. i

8. In a bination of a casin having an opening therein for the introduction of a'fare box; a chute for fares; a drawer slidable through said openin to a position below the chute the front 0 the drawer forming aclosure for the opening; a fare box removably carried by said drawer; a cover forthe box;

cover movable to and from the closing posiing said closing means; and a rearward extension of the front of the drawer adjacent to the closin means adapted to maintain the closure of t'e opening in the casing until said means have been moved towards th 5 closing position. a l In are ccllectinapparatus the emf-ibil nation of a casing having an opening therein the opening; a'fare box removably carried fare collecting apparatus the commeans within the apparatus for closing thetion; means operable by the drawer for mov-' for the introduction of a fare box; a chute for fares; a drawer slidable through said opening to a position below the chute thp front of the drawer forming a closure for the opening; a fare box removably carried by said drawer; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus for closing the cover movable to and from the closing position; a pivoted inclined lane carried by the drawer adapted on the outward movement of the drawer to engage the closing means to move them towards the closing position and to pass by out of engagement, its pivoted support permitting of its return movement as the drawer is closed Without affecting the closing means; and a rearward extension of the front of the drawer adjacent to the closing means adapted to maintain the closure of the opening in the casing until said means have been moved towards the closing position.

10. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casing having an opening therein for the introduction of a fare box; a chute for fares; a drawer sliclable through said opening to a position below the chute the front of the drawer forming a closure for the opening; a farebox removably carried by said drawer; a cover for the box; means within the apparatus for closing the cover movable to and from the closing position; a projection on said means whereby it may be operated; a rib carried by said drawer adapted to slide either at one side or the other of the projection as the drawer is reciprocal-ed; a pivoted inclined plane or switch point at the forward end of said rib normally yieldingly held in position to move the projection to cause the lid closing means to assume the closing position as the drawer is drawn outward, the rib being so proportioned that when the drawer is fully drawn out the projection is free to pass to the other side of the rib and to lift and pass the switch point as the drawer is pushed in again; and a rearward extension of the front of the drawer adjacent to the closing means adapted to maintain the closure of the opening in the casing until said means have been moved towards the closing position.

11. In fare collecting apparatus the combination of a casing having an opening lhcrcin for the introduction of a are box; a chute for force; a drawer slidable through said opening to a position below the chute the front of the drawer forming a closure for the opening; a fare box reniovably carried by said drawer; a cover for the box; a vertical movable rod adapted to engage the fare box cover to close it; a rearwardly extending lever suitably fulcruined and connected to said rod; a projection on said lever whereby it may be operated; a rib carried by said drawer and ad pted to slide either above or below said pro j ection as the drawer is reciprocated; and a ivoted inclined plane or switch point at t e forward end of said rib normally yieldingly held in position to move the projection to cause the lever to move the aforesaid rod to a position to engage the fare box cover as the drawer is drawn outward, the rib being so propori'ioned that when the drawer is fully drawn out the projection is free to ass to the other side of the rib and to 1i and pass the switch point as the drawer is pushed in again. 7

12. In fare collecting apparatus the co1n binution of a casing having an o ening therein for the introduction 0. a fare box; a chute for fares; a drawer slidable through said opening to a position below the chute the Front of the drawer forming a closure for the opening; a fare box rcmovably carried by said drawer; a cover for the box; a vertical movable rod adapted to engage the fare box cover to close it: a rearwardly extending lever suitably fulcrumed and conncclcd to said rod; a projection on said lcvcr whereby it may be operated; a rib carried by said drawer and adapted to slide either above or below said projection as the drawer is reciprocatcd: a pivoted inclined plane or switch point at the forward end of said rib normally yieldingly held in position to move-the projection to cause the lever to move the aforesaid rod to a pisition to engage the fare box cover as the drawer is drawn outward, the rib bcing so proportioned that when the drawer is fully drawn out the projectirm is free to pas to the other side oi the rib and to lift and pass the switch point as the drawer is pushed in again: and a rearward extension of the trout of the drawer adjacent to the rod and lover adapted to maintain the closure of the opening in the casing nntil said rod has been moved towards the closing position.

13; A fare box having a hinged cover and provided with a pivoted dog at one side normally engaging the cover to hold it slightly raised in combination with fare collecting apparatus having an opening to receive the box and provided with a part adapted to rock the dog to disengage it from the lid as the box is inserted tl'nfough said opening and to maintain it in the disengaged position while the box is within the apparatus.

Dated at 'loronto in thc Province of On lnrio (nnada this lst day of June, A. l). lflOH.

if). MnnNnn, l). S. Tow-ran. 

